Latest news with #Lahti
Hamilton Spectator
03-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Substantially correct': B.C. housing minister backs Port Moody's MLA after dispute with local council, again
For the second time, B.C.'s Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon has backed Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Rick Glumac against criticisms from Port Moody council. City council recently released two letters penned by Mayor Meghan Lahti – one addressed to Kahlon and the other to Glumac – in which she criticized her MLA's remarks at a previous council meeting and requested clarification from the province. Lahti said that Glumac's statements 'created significant confusion' about the Transit-Oriented Areas (TOA) legislation and Port Moody's obligations under provincial housing reforms. 'Your messages have been widely interpreted by the community as confirmation that the TOA is not relevant to Port Moody,' Lahti wrote to Glumac. '(This has) placed the municipality in an awkward position . . . and called into question both council and staff's housing legislation implementation actions.' It is not the first time Port Moody council has bypassed their MLA to complain to provincial higher ups. In October 2023, Lahti wrote to Premier David Eby , asking the party to rein in Glumac after he suggested a critical development could sacrifice parking to secure affordable housing. Like the previous letter-writing spat , Kahlon largely backed Glumac. In a June 2 letter to Mayor Lahti, Kahlon said the MLA's presentation and response to council were 'substantially correct.' 'It is my understanding that MLA Glumac was only given five minutes by council to present on very complex topics and subsequently issued a letter to mayor and council to provide more information to build on these topics.' Port Moody council had invited Glumac to speak at their March 25 meeting, but did not allow him to utilize a prepared slideshow presentation, nor exceed the five-minute time limit imposed on public delegations. A contentious hour-long conversation followed where the MLA was prodded with questions, criticism and skepticism over provincial policy. In her letters, Lahti raised concern over Glumac's statements at the meeting, which she said omitted key legal and planning nuances. 'While the statements he made may appear accurate in isolation, he has left out several important details that do not consider the full context of the legislative requirements,' Lahti wrote to Kahlon. Four of Glumac's comments were highlighted as being problematic: City staff were forced to seek immediate clarification from the ministry following the meeting, according to Lahti, adding that Glumac's statements cast doubt on whether Port Moody needed to follow certain provincial requirements. Lahti also criticized Glumac for publicly posting his presentation slides online, and requested he remove them. She claimed the slides lacked provincial branding, contradicted clarifications Glumac made later in a follow-up letter on April 15, and questioned whether ministry staff had authorized them. She emphasized that the city's planning process had been paused in late 2023 to incorporate requirements in the new housing legislation, and the city was now under pressure to meet a year-end deadline for completing its OCP update. Several councillors praised the public release of Lahti's letters on May 27, with one councillor describing Glumac's statements as 'misinformation.' 'This council has mentioned, recently and frequently, facts are important, and when incorrect information or disinformation is shared in our community, it has the effect of eroding public trust and causing confusion among our residents,' said Coun. Kyla Knowles. 'Now that (the letters) have been released, they outline which and when misinformation was shared.' In his June 2 response, Minister Kahlon addressed each of Lahti's concerns in detail and confirmed that municipalities have the authority to impose affordable and rental housing requirements in TOAs through inclusionary zoning, but only after conducting a feasibility analysis. He clarified that TOA legislation applies to all parcels where residential use is permitted, including mixed-use commercial zones, but does not apply to lands where residential use is secondary to industrial or agricultural use. On the question of whether minimum densities should be used as a planning tool, Kahlon explained that while the TOA framework sets mandatory baselines, municipalities must still take additional steps (such as pre-zoning land) for these areas to count toward their 20-year housing capacity. Kahlon affirmed that even if a city meets its overall housing targets, TOA development applications must still be considered, and councils cannot use the OCP to avoid TOA obligations. That said, he added councils do retain full discretion over proposals that exceed TOA minimums. For his part, Glumac told the Dispatch his presentation was constrained by time but was meant to outline the balance of mandatory requirements and municipal discretion. He added he wants to work with council on housing opportunities, based: 'on a foundation of mutual respect, that puts the needs of our constituents above all else.' 'While provincial housing legislation will have effects on Port Moody, the legislation and its requirements provide both powerful tools and allow for flexibility that afford council significant control over ensuring development in the community meets our needs,' Glumac said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . 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BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Finland court give date for hearing of Simon Ekpa case
Di Päijät-Häme District Court for Finland don set date to begin di hearing of criminal case against a former municipal politician from Lahti wey dey identified as Simon Ekpa. Dis na afta di Office of the Prosecutor General for Finland bin confam to BBC Pidgin say dem charge di suspect (Ekpa) wit 'public incitement to commit a crime wit terrorist intent'. Di district court for Finland tell BBC Pidgin say di defendant (Ekpa) dey for detention and hearing for im case go start for end of May 2025. Dis na according to Ulla Ristola wey be di District Secretary for di District Court of Päijät-Häme. According to di District Court of Päijät-Häme for dia document wey BBC Pidgin get, di hearing go last several days and di prosecutors applications for summons, and di defendant written response go dey public for 30 May 2025 "Päijät-Häme District Court go begin hearing a criminal case concerning terrorist crimes, on 30 May 2025. Di defendant for di case na former municipal politician from Lahti, wey currently dey pretrial detention." Di District Court say di defendant dey "charged wit public incitement to commit a crime wit terrorist intent, participation for di activities of a terrorist group, aggravated tax fraud and violation of di provisions of di Attorneys Act." Päijät-Häme District Court through di district secretary say di trial go begin wit a preparatory session on 30 May 2025. "Di main hearing go den begin on di same day, and dey expected to last several days. Di trial go dey at least largely public." BBC Pidgin gada say na panel of three judges go hear and decide di case. Di charges against Simon Ekpa Finnish Deputy Prosecutor General bin charge promoter of di Indigenous People of Biafra Simon Ekpa wit inciting terrorism online. Di Finland National Prosecution Authority say Ekpa allegedly commit di offence for Lahti between 2021 and 2024. Di Office of the Prosecutor General for Finland also add say dem dey suspect aggravated tax fraud join di charges. "Di charges dey related to di suspect activities wey dey aimed at establishing di so-called Biafra region of Nigeria as an independent state," Finland Office of the Prosecutor General tok. "Di Deputy Prosecutor General don file charges against a Finnish individual for a case wey involve suspected public incitement to commit a crime wit terrorist intent and participation for terrorist group." "Di alleged acts dey committed for Lahti between 2021 and 2024, along wit related alternative charges and suspected aggravated tax fraud." Also, Mikko Laaksonen wey be di Senior Detective Superintendent of Finland National Bureau of Investigation tell BBC Pidgin say di charges filed against Ekpa include contribution to activities of terrorist group. "Prosecution don file charges against Simon Ekpa wit contributing to di activities of a terrorist group and public exhortation to an offence wit terrorist intent." According to di National Prosecuting Authority, dem say di charged individual (Ekpa) dey for custody and "e don deny say im commit di crime." We don reach out to Simon Ekpa lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus to get im side of di tori wey we receive from di Finland authority and how dem dey react to am. More tori on Simon Ekpa dey here:
